In this Case the more usual VVay is to try all Means to obtain a Reprieve or Forgiveness and if that cannot possibly be had then indeed the former Resolution was the more excusable But if it might have been obtained unless for such provoing Attempts or they would use them of set Purpose here it is the very Heighth of Folly and Madness For they wilfully bring upon themselves such Evil and Misery under which they smart only for a slight and sudden Humour which soon passeth away and for which they are condemned by all understanding Men. Thus it is as concerning Offences between Man and Man But yet it is ten Thousand times more unreasonable as to Sins against God For do we provoke the Lord to Jealousie Are we stronger than he If any are perversly resolved against him they will see and feel who will repent of it first God or themselves The Lord will not spare him but then the Anger of the Lord and his Jealousie shall smoak against that Man and all the Curses that are written in this Book shall lie upon him and the Lord shall blot out his Name from under Heaven Deut. 29. 20. All this may be done at this present time even when he knows not or is not sensible thereof But now it would be better if he were sensible of as much because then he might fear and tremble submit and then endeavour to be reconciled unto him in the mean while Lay hold of his Strength and make Peace with him who saith Fury is not in me Isa 27. 4. But if this be neglected what will the poor Creature do when the Anger and Jealousie of the Lord which before did smoak to give VVarning shall burn out with fiery Indignation to consume the Adversaries when all the Curses that are written in this Book and now lie against him shall be actually executed upon him For behold the Day cometh that shall burn as an Oven and all the Proud such as will not submit in the mean while yea and all that do wickedly shall be Stubble and the Day that cometh shall burn them up saith the Lord of Hosts that it shall not leave them Root nor Branch Mal. 4. 1. Let them at present he never so great in their own Opinion or many for Number Yet when the Earth and all the Works thereof shall be burnt up they shall be likewise devoured in the general Conflagration What is a single Potsherd to stand before him when he shall sweep away with one Beesome of Destruction all the Generations of the wicked since the World began Thou carriest them away as with a Flood they are as asleep Psal 40. 5. Thus we evidently perceive of those Generations whereof one cometh another goeth and the single Persons flourish and grow up again They are cut down at any Time or wither And in the mean time By thy Wrath are we troubled Vers 7. It is now revealed from Heaven We now and then perceive some Glimpses thereof and we do startle and fear Those who are farthest off and most exempted from this Wrath yet they commonly have most Thought and Apprehension thereof As again to whom it is most due and threatned by reason of their evil Deeds they do what they can to shut out the Sense and Knowledge thereof For otherwise it would press in so hard and close upon them that then they must not continue in Sin Even in those who fence and harden themselves most yet ever and anon a sudden Flash of divine Vengeance darts into their Minds which strikes them with Dread and Horror and by the trembling and Astonishment it gives it doth sufficiently convince there is one mightier than they Our God indeed now keeps Silence and is out of Sight as also he forbears in this Time of Tryal yet he hath declared and made known that he is angry with the wicked every Day Psal 7. 11. who again Day by Day transgress against him For they speak and do those things against God which they dare not do against their fellow-Creature But when Man hath finished his Time of sinning the Number of the Days of Transgression are accomplished and God comes to reckon for them altogether For the Destruction of the Transgressors and of the Sinners shall be together Isa 1. 28. Then whatever he thought or did as concerning this almighty Judge when the things concerning him have an End then the most mad and prophane Wretch that ever trod on the Earth will be forced to take up Julian's Confession and Acknowledgment Vicisti Galilee and in another Sense then the Prophet spake in O Lord thou art stronger than I and hast prevailed Jer. 20. 7. Why thus much may be clearly discerned in the mean while for let Man consider himself or who made him his Flesh is as Grass which grows up towards withering His Breath is in his Nostrils and who breathed it in he can take it out whensoever he will His Strength is confined to such a Degree beyond which he cannot do more His Stature bodily Dimension and every thing he hath is limited to such a Size And certainly he who hath determined him on every Side hath Power over him Who made all Men he can do more to such a single Person than one Man or Thousands can do to another There is one Lawgiver who is able to save and to destroy As he doth good so he can punish He can do both in a greater Degree and more eminent Manner than any of the Sons of Men can do one to another Even to the utmost that we are capable to receive and to endure For as the Heavens are higher than the Earth so are my Ways higher than your Ways and my Thoughts than your Thoughts Isa 55. 9. This is brought in to confirm his Promise of Pardon and Acceptation Vers 7. So again is his Punishment and Requital He can contend and be wroth so long even just till the Spirits shall fail before him and the Souls which he hath made Which also he can uphold and continue yet longer to sustain his Vengeance as long as himself is pleased to inflict the same His Loving Kindness is better than Life for it extends yet further so likewise the Power of his Anger is more to be dreaded than Death for it is even beyond that Upon all Respects God's Displeasure and Punishment doth exceed Man's Displeasure and Punishment and consequently it is more to be feared and more Care ought to be taken that it be avoided The several Actings and Obligations towards God rise greater and higher than to the best and greatest of Men for God is more than all So neither is that Rebellion and Contempt to be used towards him which Men will not admit of from one another God is greater than Man Yea all Nations before him are as the Drop of the Bucket He will keep the Feet of his Saints and the wicked shall be silent in Darkness for by Strength shall no Man prevail
Practical Discourses On Sundry TEXTS OF SCRIPTURE Wherein is shewed and made known The absolute Necessity for all People TO Turn Immediately Unto the Lord their GOD. By RICHARD STAFFORD formerly a Batchelor of Arts of Magdalen-Hall in Oxford LONDON Printed and are to be Sold by Ralph Simpson at the Harp in St. Paul's Church-yard 1695. To the Courteous READER THE Subject of this ensuing Book A Call to all the Inhabitants of the Earth to turn immediately to the Lord their God is Great and Good Even what all the Words and Preaching that have ever came forth into the World in all the several Generations and Countries have endeavoured at For Christ also hath once suffered for Sins the Just for the Vnjust that he might bring us to God 1 Pet. 3. 8. Besides the Sufferings of Christ The End and Intent of all the Words which Christ spake or made known and so it is the same of all the Transactions which have ever passed between God and Man are that he might bring us to Himself who is God Though this hath been indeed effected of some few Peculiar People of the several Generations yet it hath not been of the Multitude and Generality of Mankind Notwithstanding God was manifested in the Flesh and put to Death in the Flesh but quickned in the Spirit for this alone End and Purpose How can it then be expected that one who is born out of due Time and the least of all in the Kingdom of God can by publishing a few words more accomplish so great a thing when all the Books and Preaching in the World have not yet done it Especially when the Word it self which was made Flesh and dwelt among us Full of Grace and Truth who spake as never Man spake did not so bring it to pass that all should though some did believe on him Far be it therefore from me to expect or imagine That this little Book or Treatise of mine will ever have so great an Effect But it is only offered as another Mile to be thrown into the Treasury of Divine Truths It is the Thoughts of one single Creature which have arose in his Mind whereby himself is actually perswaded to God and good things and to turn unto the Lord Immediately Luke 12. 36. As Paul conferred not with Flesh and Blood but immediately went to Jerusalem So for my part I would utterly lay aside all Carnal and Worldly Considerations and immediately give up my self to the Guidance of the Lord as he leads me in the way to Jerusalem that is above whithersoever that way goes And I do desire that these same Thoughts may be published and made known abroad Out of this Hope and Expectation If Peradventure the God of all Truth who perswadeth us throughout our Life in all the several Circumstances and Conditions thereof That we may be able to perswade other Men and Women by the very same Thoughts wherewith our selves are perswaded of God He fashioneth the Hearts of the Sons of Men alike Psal 33. 15. and it is commonly seen That by what one is perswaded another under the like Thoughts and Circumstances is Perswaded also And if the like things were made known unto and believed by the mixt Multitude and generality of Mankind as is to the elect People and real Servants of God in all outward Likelihood and Probability They would also be brought over unto God To this alone End and Purpose are these Words laid before Men that whosoever will may read And for such who will not read the Saying among the Latins is Pertinaciae nullum Remedium Posuit Deus So we the Ministers of his Word cannot tell what to say to it Nor do we know how to help and remedy it though we would never so fain But we can only warn such Behold ye Despisers and Wonder and Perish Such are in real danger to fall under the same Doom as the Sons of Eli and Amaziah did Notwithstanding they bearkned not unto the Voice of their Father Because the Lord would slay them 1 Sam. 2. 25. But Amaziah would not hear for it came of God that he might deliver them into the hand of their Enemies 2 Chron. 25. 20. And so it is They that will not Hear Read and Receive the Words of Instruction Knowledge and Reproof It is a certain foregoing sign that such will be punished with everlasting Destruction from the Presence of the Lord and from the Glory of his Power It is commonly alledged that there is no new thing under the Sun and there is nothing said especially in Books but what hath been said before for my part I would endeavour somewhat further in what I publish to the World which as yet is not so clearly made known in other Books and Sermons or otherwise I would not publish at all Or at least I would seek out acceptable Words and that which is written may be upright even Words of Truth Eccles 12. 10. If Words or rather Sentences of Truth are indeed brought forth Although they be without Method and Connexion as there are very many of this sort in the following Treatise yet they are never the less worth for want of that All one as pieces of Gold or so many Pearls are not the less valuable although they be not linked and chained together Again Although my writing here is not with enticing words of Mans Wisdom nor yet according to the exact Rules of Oratory But things are expressed so plainly that they may be understood by the meanest Capacity Nevertheless God is more glorified and the Reader may be more edified hereby then in what is called more Learned and Polite Discourses It was both a puzling and also a sudden Question of Pilate What is Truth To me it seems to be the expressing forth the Nature of things as they are with the Connexion between themselves and how they pertain to us Men. Things are again divided into Visible and Invisible Present or Future Now the present and visible things soon pass away and are but little But the great Object of what is commonly called Divine Truth which is the subject of the ensuing Book is only invisible and future things which are the only thing needful even the greatest and nearest Concern All things are Gods for he created them and the principal Matter here insisted on throughout the whole is what God requires of Man with a Word of Exhortation to enforce him the more to the Obedience and Observance of the same and more especially what God will do unto us Men and Women the reasonable Inhabitants of this Earth both hereon in the latter days and also after that they are gone off from this Stage of the middle part of the World As to that great Controversie which the Lord hath had for so many Generations past and foregoing concerning their universal Obedience to Himself their God Psal 50. 7. which all the words that ever came forth and were made known in the World heretofore
that formed us nor receive in wrong Prejudices and false Apprehensions of his supreme and most excellent Being Our Ignorance Corruption and Satan's Temptation make us turn aside and then some strange Imaginations make us unwilling to return All which might be discovered to be Falshood Mistake and Error so soon as they are fully known Where God calls unto the Children of Men they struggle and give backwards and are not willing to come and this is the Strivings of the People This Manner of Speech is not intended of Heathens and such as have not known nor heard of God for they are expressed afterwards but it is meant of those who go under the Name of Israelites whom he vouchsafes to stile his own People These have some Faith and Knowledge but it is dark and imperfect they conceive somewhat of God but it is Error and Falshood they apprehend somewhat of his Law but not fully and thence comes to be in them an evil Heart of standing off from God The general Deceivableness of Heart which keeps them off for there is a Thousand Kind of little Surmises which may be answered in like manner is here reduced unto these Three Particulars 1. They think that themselves are as it were forced unto Obedience and they do not love to be compelled against their Will 2. Some imagine that they have so grievously offended God that they dare not to come 3. Which is the principal Reason of all the Generality of People think that if they submit presently unto the Obedience of God they shall be Losers and disappointed of so much Pleasure Profit and Conveniency in the mean while They shall miss of so much imagined Happiness and fall into Sowerness and Misery If these Three Points can be cleared and the Heart of Man throughly satisfied as to each of them then it is just and equal that he should not defer one Moment longer but turn immediately unto the Lord their God CHAP. II. Here that Proposition is at Large discussed That People are not forced and compelled to the Obedience of God but they are left herein to their own free Choice or Refusal FOR the first Cannot they imagine That if it was the Mind of God that any should be compelled to his Service could not he have brought the whole World unto his Obedience before this Time when they have continued for some Thousands of Years in their Iniquity and Transgression He who fashioneth their Hearts alike Psal 33. 15. and knoweth our Frame Psal 103. 14. could also have put into us the same instant Necessity and Inclination to his Worship and Service as to our Meat and Drink that without it we should grow faint and perish He could have determined the Powers of Soul only one Way as in Brutes and have moved them towards his Law and Will as they are carried by Instinct to natural and sensible things he could have implanted into every one that strong Desire of following the thing that good is as after Life and Breath and they should abhor and flee from Evil with the like Care and Earnestness as from Death and Destruction He could have so hedged up all our Ways that it were not possible to go from him if we were never so eagerly bent on Backsliding no more than we can now get out of a strong Prison He might have so compassed us in of every Side that we could not avoid fulfilling his Command no more than any one doth now escape from under a Guard Neither can we hide from him who is every where and in all Places He might give us as sensible Evidence of his taking Knowledge of all our Ways as a King doth of any Treason committed in his Presence for which we should incur his severe Wrath immediately Verily thou art art a God that hidest thy self O God of Israel the Saviour Isa 45. 15. and so hast done ever since the World began to see what the Children of Men will do God hath discovered himself no more than what was necessary for to exercise our Faith and Trial. He hath just made known his Name and Power amongst Men but further it is left unto them how they will carry themselves towards the Lord their Strength and Redeemer It is a wonderful thing to consider how the God who made and filleth and is all things should yet be so little manifested unto Men That he who is all Brightness and Glory should not be seen among us That he who made and fashioned us in whom we live and move and have our Being should not be perceived by us That when he filleth Heaven and Earth with his Presence yet any should live without God in the World Surely Darkness hath covered the Earth and gross Darkness the People The Sun gives Light upon it by Day and the Moon by Night and yet there is a greater Darkness round about which the dull Element perceives not there is yet a worse and greater Obscurity in those who see and walk therein Strange that it should not be yet universally fulfilled in all People At that Day shall a Man look to his Maker and his Eyes shall have Respect unto the holy One of Israel Isa 17. 7. for he might see him with the Eyes of his Vnderstanding being enlightened all one as he doth with his bodily Eye see the Works of God and the Earth which we tread on By the Air which a Man breaths and moves in he might have a Sense and Resemblance of him who is invisible who doth also beset him behind and before and is with him in his going out and coming in and is acquainted with all his Ways There is no going from his Spirit and Presence If I ascend up into Heaven thou art there If I make my Bed in Hell behold thou art there If I take the Wings of the Morning and dwell in the uttermost Parts of the Sea even there shall thy Hand lead me and thy Right Hand shall hold me Psal 139. 8 9 10. And so he doth equally in the narrow Places of our Abode Whether we be on a Journey or a walking in our Chamber or in the lower Parts of our House whether we be alone or in Company God is all along present with us but through Imperfection the Soul is not well intent on several things together and his Creatures too often make us forget the Creator As we behold them we are unmindful of him that is invisible their Talk and Discourse too often make us not think of his Word and Law Nevertheless these Failings might be rectified and we might have a continual Sense of him and of his Commandments that we might not fall nor offend But here it is to be admired that when there are so many things to bring to the knowledge and Remembrance of our God yet Mankind for several Generations should be so sottishly ignorant and unmindful of him Every thing we see taste and handle is his Work and Creature which should renew
their Ignorance and Forgetfulness of him For would not his Holiness and Purity keep them in perfect Order and Subjection when one who is a less Partaker thereof than a Drop to the whole Ocean doth cast a Damp and clog that they cannot so freely enjoy the Pleasures of Sin nor run on so uncontroulably in the broad Way which leads unto Destruction When now they would refrain to do such a thing if a strict Demand and Account should be required of them would they not much more abstain if they were sensibly assured that the Lord himself shall come with Ten Thousand of his Saints to execute Judgment upon all He now sitteth in the Heavens and prepareth his Seat for Judgment and as sure as this is the Time of Trial so there will be a Day of Examination and rendring unto every one according to his Deeds Who are now so averse and afraid to hear or speak of him when we know but little more than of his Name and Truth which we hear with the Ear and see it thus written of him and conceive in the Mind But how will they fly back and be astonished when God himself shall come and the very things shall be manifested whereof it is now a Vexation only to understand the Report Who would not receive the Kingdom of God when heretofore it was in Word how must they submit unto it when it shall be actually in Deed When he sent a Message to reign over them and Officers to set up his Kingdom but they did not receive that and did evil entreat them whom he had sent what will they do when the King himself shall come with his Armies and miserably destroy those wicked Men He now speaketh from Heaven by his Word and the Time draweth nigh when he will fulfill the same This Word drops in by way of silent Thought to the Heart or it is heard by hearing of the Ear from a Fellow Creature or it is conveyed unto us by Means of Ink and Paper all which is but a still Voice whereby God doth now manifest himself unto us So he sent his only Son the eternal Word which was made Flesh who dwelt here and became as one of us that God might be more familiar and acquainted with our Nature and also to try whether we would thus receive and obey him But as many as received him to them he gave Power to become the Sons of God John 1. 12. It is said nothing is more free than a Gift so the tendring and offer thereof is free so likewise the Receipt and Acceptance thereof is a free Act for it might be refused If God the Father had shewn his Greatness and Glory then People would run unto him as now they ignorantly stay away for a little shadow and representation thereof from the World But when he hath revealed himself in a little contemptible Appearance this will prove whether they will take their Lot and Portion with that at present and expect the greater things to come Whether notwithstanding the Vail and Covering drawn over the things of God they can yet discern the Glory that excelleth whether they will believe this Word which hath spoken of more than what is now seen or had Again If he should at present reveal himself in his Majesty and Power then People would presently yield unto him who is mighty much more than they now pay Reverence and Submission to the King and great Men as he who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords doth exceed the greatest and highest of the Sons of Men. VVhich is so infinite that no Compassion can be made to express the just and true distance But when this God hideth himself when he seems as one asleep and taketh no notice when he doth not actually give his Favour presently to them that do well nor yet doth he immediately Manifest forth his severe displeasure against them who sin and transgress when it is alike with Subjects and Enemies VVho fear God and who fear him not this will exercise our Faith and waiting as also prove their Rebellion and Contempt Indeed there are the Promises and Threatnings annexed and all must partake of the one or they are liable to the other But yet the Conditions of one are put into our power and none unless by his own fault or wilfullness doth fall under the other His Kingdom and Dominion is over all every thing that can be named or doth any where exist but then he ruleth over them according to their several Natures The VVinds and Sea Obey him necessarily Beasts Birds and Creeping things go constantly according to that Instinct implanted in them which is as it were a Law unto them To Man is committed Revelation and Reason for to guide him nevertheless he may disregard act contrary or yield unto and comply with its dictates So much is left to his freedom and choice There is set before him Life and Good Death and Evil with a repeated inculcation to choose Life And though when these two opposite things are simply and abstractedly proposed every one hath so much Understanding as would preserve and make him happy Yet the great doubt and mistake is concerning the way and means of one or the other which also are laid before the Sons of Men and offered to their choice and liberty as the End is It might first of all be rationally and assuredly concluded That where the End is Right Good and Desirable so is every thing that necessarily tends towards it for upon a rotten Stock and Foundation there can never be a sure Building So contrariwise where the End is dismal and feared by every one they might well suspect the several steps leading towards it and consequently refrain to move a step further which they might if they would As they evidently see and know that God hath put it into their power at first to go into one way or another and when they are in a little they may stand still or go backwards or rather turn aside from out of it So likewise by God's Grace and Invitation They may come unto Life John 5. 40. and it is of themselves that they fall into Death and Destruction Hos 13. 9. This last thing being attendant to their refusal of coming unto God and Obeying his Voice doth seem to imply as if they were forced But if so they would actually do it for are Men stronger than He God is Allmighty and must prevail if it were the purpose of his Heart to compel Mankind unto his Obedience He could raise up Hell from beneath and set it evidently before our Eyes as Nebuchadnezzar did the Fiery Furnace He could even now Command his Angels to sound the Trumpet as at the last day when the dead shall hear his Voice that every Nation Country and Language all that are now living should fall down and VVorship him or they shall be cast into Hell He could so order it even at this present time That those which
do Iniquity shall be cast immediately thereupon into a Furnance of Fire and then the boldest worker thereof would fear tremble and refrain He could stir up those terrible ones from under the Earth Devils and infernal Spirits the Executioners of his VVrath who should over-awe poor Mortals all one as a mighty King with his Armies doth now make them do this or that thing at his pleasure For hath he not the same power as Man to whom he gave being and hath before committed unto him the Power of doing whatever he doth Cannot he who sitteth upon the Circle of the Earth and the Inhabitants thereof are as Grashoppers do as much or rather more than any two-footed Creature that now walks thereon Cannot the High and Lofty One who sitteth upon his Throne and commandeth over the Armies in Heaven who are greater in power and might as that wide place above is bigger than this spot of ground here where we dwell send forth his Authority and execute the same here Is this too far off when it is his Footstool for he filleth all places and all things even those under the Earth with his presence If I make my Bed in Hell behold thou art there Psal 139. 8. Even now he sends sorth his Lightning unto the Ends of the Earth and his Arrows go throughout the World But because God doth not yet manifest his Power and shew forth all his Might a thought doth arise in them who know not God as if he cannot do this They who have a little more knowledge are sometimes apt to imagine That because he acts here by outward means which are but little and small that by reason of them is the Defect and they are unable to atchieve such great and mighty things whereas his infinite Wisdom and Glory are here to be seen in ordaining strength out of weakness VVho first made he will also enable them to perform what he would have them to do He can send forth his Angels or other Instruments whom we have not known nor heard of as yet A Temptation doth arise that though God can yet he will not do thus for so we have heard in Old Time and in our days over and over and yet all things continue as they were since the Creation But the Apostle in 2 Pet. 3. 5 6. answers this by what God did of Old both by Creation of and Drowning the VVorld For this they are willingly ignorant of That by the Word of God the Heavens were of Old and the Earth stamding out of the Water and in the Water whereby the World that then was being overflowed with Water perished But the Heavens and the Earth which are now by the same Word are kept in store reserved unto Fire against the day of Judgment and perdition of Vngodly Men. That same VVord which spake them first into Being acquainted Noah Gen 6. of the intended Flood and afterwards this same word brought the VVaters for God Commanded them The same VVord hath likewise said that it shall be thus in the latter days to which we now haste Thus it is determined upon all those who in the mean time have been Ungodly or are or shall hereafter not give regard to the great God above or are disobedient to him for all such are ungodly without God in the VVorld who do not live in sense of Submission and Duty under him These might even now conceive that as in the beginning the Lord laid the Foundations of the Earth and it abideth as they find by moving and dwelling thereon As they see the gathering of the VVaters which is called Sea and as we behold the Heavens upheld and the Stars in their Courses and Places So surely doth the threatning lye against such and will be fulfilled when these things shall be so changed as we are further foretold of As before it was observed of the stedfastness and immutability of the Promise from Isa 45. So from 2 Pet. 3. it may be gathered of the utmost certainty of the Evil and Good things there spoken of They seem therefore to be out of sight and to come to prove how we in the mean while will be concerned and affected towards them There is a little imperfect Good in the One at present and a lesser Evil and Harm in the other but God will so add further that the one shall be perfected in Reward and Happiness the other shall end in Punishment and Misery My Son forget not my Law but let thine heart keep my Commandments for Length of Days and long Life and Peace shall they add unto you Prov. 3. 1 2. and when the first is ended there shall succeed Immortality and Glory And the Peace here shall go out in Ravishment Extasie and unutterable Rejoycing So again Sin which now hurts for a moment doth bring on Torment for ever What occasions Sorrow and Vexation doth deliver over to the VVorm which shall never die VVhat occasions Sickness and Pain doth likewise bring forth Death and the Vengeance of Eternal Fire All that is seen or had here is but an earnest of like and worse things to come The less do fore-run and give notice of the greater And as in the former case by the comfort and satisfaction of the one we should much more desire and pray after that which exceedeth So by the sensible inconvenience and trouble of the latter way we should much more abhor and dread the End thereof which is Death As we now taste and feel it is thus so we may believe and be fully assured it shall be so hereafter as the faithful and true VVitness saith Behold I have told you before By the real Good of one way we may well depend further upon the substance of things hoped for By the hurt and deceitfulness of the other we may be sufficiently forewarned of the Destruction and Misery in that way The Nature of Rewards and Punishments Exhortation and Dehortation Promises and Threatnings do denote that Man is left to his Liberty and Freedom All these do inform and acquaint him how things stand pertaining to him That he might partake of the Good and avoid the Evil. God hath thus established the Connexion and Order of things They are set before Mankind and placed so near that they are become as closely appendant to him as his Flesh and Spirit so they must have the one or the other His trial is appointed in things absolutely necessary which he cannot be without as Meat Drink and Rayment to the Body and in Thoughts as to the Soul which are the very Essence of it for the Soul will cease to be when it shall cease to think And lest the Soul should degenerate into Sloth and Bruitishness of that we are rouzed up to take heed by the Parable of the unprofitable Servant whose Doom was Cast him into outer Darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth VVho would not receive and ascend up towards the Light but walked all his days in
contemptuously But yet they do much worse and are worthy of sorer Punishment who are not contented to let God alone but they have a secret Purpose as it were to dishonour him If they think that God may be glorified by such a thing they will with a secret Imagination what lieth in them cross that Intent and Purpose VVho will endeavour to disannul what he hath said and try to defeat what he hath purposed and intends to bring to pass Whom God hath exalted they consult to cast him down from his Excellency They bless with their Mouth but they curse inwardly Psal 62. 4. VVho after the manner of Hypocrites talk of God and his Glory but at the same time they both think otherwise in their Hearts and also practise contrary in their Actions God hath vowed to punish such Iniquity He doth first defeat and then over-rule their wicked Imaginations and Practices to his own greater Glory He that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh the Lord shall have them in Derision Psal 2. 4. He doth behold all the cunning Contrivances and Actings of Men towards him For the Lord is a God of Knowledge and by him Actions are weighed 1 Sam. 2. 3. of whatever Kind they be whether good or Evil whether they please or provoke him He knows with what Heart and Intent each thing is done Strange That any of the Sons of Men who are but meer Creatures who are weak and dying subject to Pain here and Misery hereafter liable to Death here and Damnation hereafter so likewise they are capable of receiving Good and Happiness and these come from without or can be manifested from within yet they should not endeavour at all times to behave themselves rightly towards the great Lord and Disposer of all things in the whole World All that we have already is from God and he hath reserved more which he can dispense forth according to his own good Will and Pleasure His Favour and loving Kindness are most worthy to be sought after for it gives Peace and Assurance at present and is better than Life it self which doth relish and perceive all things and then transmits over to an eternal State of Blessedness Who would not partake of this For even the Desire and Enjoyment of Sensuality the Endeavours after being great and highly esteemed redounds all to this at last that he may be an happy Man To be so for all Eternity is rather to be chosen than to be so only for a short Time Nay an assured Hope and Expectation of that is to be preferred before the present Pleasure of Sin for as every one feels within himself and is sensible of there is a certain fearful Expectation of the End of that which is Death and Punishment Who will shew us any Good Psal 4. 6. is the Language of every one Where and how it may be had is the great Thought and searching of Heart yea and there is an actual Endeavour after it where it may be had with some little Pains and Labour as appears by the several Actions Ends and Designs of Mankind And though the Generality of the World hath been long settled on the Lees and they do still continue so They are sunk down into Earthliness and this present Life And they being wholly taken up with the Conveniences and small perishing Pleasures of this Life they do not care to rise and ascend up higher But yet they would do well to give heed unto those VVorkings and Movings of their Soul for that equally reaches after Happiness and covets after somewhat which is wanting in order to it as the Body desires Food and Health towards Preservation of its Life here This is only the Time of Trial and State of Preparation If we can shew our selves faithful and overcome but all our Acts here are in Order and Tendency to somewhat hereafter They are but Means towards the End and as a Scaffold towards the building up an House eternal in the Heavens Nothing here is compleat and for it self All we are still passing on and like wayfaring Men who have a Refreshment but no Abode who make some Stop but no continued sitting down And when we would as it were rest and fix up our Abode yet the very Succession Change Perishing and Weariness of our Acts teach us thus much The Times and Seasons instruct us in this the Four Quarters of the Year Spring Summer Autumn and Winter The constant Course of Day and Night also Infancy Childhood Youth Manhood and declining Age the Times of Labour Recreation Eating and Drinking all these pass on Too many are like Men amazed and astonied they know not what all this means They know not neither will they understand they walk on in Darkness all the Foundations of the Earth are out of course Psal 82. 5. Though the Light hath shined and manifested what their End is of being here and what is required of them yet they are willingly ignorant but go on as the rest do This is the Manner of the Inhabitants of the Earth that dwell carelesly that say in their Hearts We are and none besides us Zeph. 2. 15. There is a secret disowning of God above or if they acknowledge him by a few Acts of outward Worship yet they confine all to that but they have not to do with him in the common Actions and general Course of their Life Here they conclude that they are left to themselves and these things they imagine are in their own Power Some others will have Respect unto God in little trivial Concerns but for those of greater Moment they do not take Counsel of him nor yet are directed by his Law nor yet do they consider rightly for his Glory Were Men verily perswaded and did they act accordingly That God is to be obeyed in all things and at all Times not only in his Presence in the Sanctuary but also when they are more Apt to forget him at home and abroad in their going out and coming in Not only before his Saints and Servants as Paul did intimate concerning the Philippians but also when they are absent and afar off The Lord's Name is to be praised from the rising of the Sun unto the going down thereof So in Man's going forth unto his Work and Labour until the Evening And then we are to lie down in Remembrance of him and to rise up again to glorifie him To think upon him whilst in Bed and awaking and as others Devise Iniquity in their Beds so our selves should forecast which Way we shall most serve and honour him If this were universally practised by all Persons in all Places we should see another kind of World than as yet hath been And do we not think it would be better and more happy with Mankind if they did thus then as now they do in living securely and negligently The Mistake and Errour is that they do not see the different and miserable Effects till it is come upon them So the Prophet
Truth of God We could reason even from the very first Principle of Action and make even the man himself whether he be in a meer natural state or if he knoweth what we say whether he be learned or unlearned yet we could leave it to every man to judge what is best even for himself to do and which is lIkely to tend most unto his own good Nothing is more certain and evident Then that there is no fruit of Sin It is like dross Psal 119. 119. which melts and slides away The pleasure or profit thereof passeth away and comes to nothing at all there is nothing therein which doth remain and endure nothing which will abide the Fire or stand in any stead in the evil day Not the least comfort or happiness can possibly arise from it Wherefore then should any one continue in Sin Or why should any one go to add Iniquity to Iniquity To draw it on as with a Cart-Rope when hereby he doth not only lose so much good but bring on himself the more guilt and misery If he hath offended God by former sins he doth yet more by present continuance in the same if he hath been filthy he will be worse by wallowing yet further in the mire and the sooner he draws back from the ways of wickedness he will abate God's displeasure against him No flesh can stand under the power of his Anger they cannot endure nor are their hearts strong in the day when the Lord shall deal with them And seeing we must all appear before him to receive Good or Evil to be sentenced unto Life or Death What can be done too much to intreat our Judge in the mean while that we may have him favourable and propitious and be found accepted with him What intercessions and care should be used against this great day of Trial and everlasting Decision How should we in the mean while behave our selves towards him that now sits above to take notice of those who fear him and think on his Name and also expecting till his Enemies be made his Footstool Those who will not submit willingly at first must at length by force who will not do it of their own accord shall be made to do it Wherefore should any debate or doubt arise in the minds of men concerning this Had they not better forthwith close in with that God of whom it is graciously written Who is a God like unto thee who pardoneth Iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage He retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy Micah 7. 18. He would wink at and pass by former Iniquities if People would be careful to please him for the time to come if they would not perversly abuse things as to stir up his Anger so much the more because he doth not retain it nor yet to presume upon that Mercy which he delighteth in The right consequence is That if God doth not retain his Anger then they should not retain their Sins if he delighteth in Mercy they should both Pray and also endeavour to be Partakers thereof to meet God as it were in the way of Goodness to have good-will towards him that he may shew Mercy towards them with what Affection thou behavest thy self towards God he will manifest the same towards thee With the merciful thou wilt shew thy self merciful with an upright man thou wilt shew thy self upright With the pure thou wilt shew thy self pure and with the froward thou wilt shew thy self froward Psal 18. 25 26. According as men are so will God be towards them Now seeing that every one knows that it is in the power of God to save or destroy to do good or to punish no man can be indifferent as to which he would partake of for he would have the good and avoid the evil let him then go the most likely way to obtain the one and eschew the other and that is not to be determined by a sudden thought or slight apprehension of things for such may be the temptation and delusion of Satan But consult the Word of God the very truth and reality of things for seeing that God made doth now govern and will dispose of all things we may rest fully assured that so it shall be as he hath said and decreed where his Word doth promise Forgiveness there the man may be assured thereof as again where it threatens Punishment there he hath just cause to fear and dread it Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Isa 55. 7. But the wicked think that this may be done hereafter so that he is for keeping to his own way in the mean while Then he will continue and go further in a wrong way out of which he must at length come or perish the longer he goes on therein the more way it is to come back those things which he now doth must be undone He must endeavour to please and be reconciled with that God whom now he provokes and sets afar off He must have an awful Regard and Reverence for him whom he now despises What strangeness and contradiction would it be to do those things now which he shall hereafter really wish and desire that he had never done Repentance comes in upon a better and more truly informed Judgment When the prodigal came to himself Luke 15. 17. then came in him the resolution of going home and framing right Principles of Life hence forwards Then it is discerned that he was in an Error heretofore that he had chosen the worst part but now he would mend and lay hold of the better then he verily assents and is really resolved That if such a thing were to do again he would not do it But how can this be that when either he doth already or might know as much yet he doth the same The whole doth depend upon a full and true knowledge That God is to be obeyed and pleased in all things and that it is best for men in all circumstances and at all times so to do If in one instance so likewise in another and then in a third and so throughout all parts of our Duty It is better to be temperate in all things than to run to the full excess of Riot to do Righteousness at all times Psal 106. 3. then to practice wrong or deceit at any time It is better to observe the several parts and stated seasons of Worship than to live in irreligion or contempt of God It is grievous to have forsaken God and it is good to draw near and hold fast unto him in every thing this may be known by that long series and tryal how it is with the condition of Mankind those several dispensations and accidents the sundry changes and chances of this mortal Life the temptations and what may
as obedient Children and Servants forthwith do the same Agreeable hereunto was the practice of God's Servants of old Time as Noah Lot Abraham and Jacob they did Serve and Worship God and did many things purely out of his Command without reasoning and mercinariness That is without knowing wherefore and also without a particular Promise of any more Reward from the hands of God With such Obedience or Service God was well pleased and they are recorded for our admonition and ensample upon whom the ends of the World are come That albeit Glory and Immortality and Eternal Life are more clearly discovered and made known unto us than they were to our Fathers yet we should be altogether as zealous and diligent in the Work of the Lord as they were without so much consideration had to what is further promised and assured unto us but we should do it only because the Lord requires it and then leave it unto him whether he will make any Recompence yea and be contented if he should give none We should acknowledge our selves unprofitable Servants we have done only what was our duty to do It was God who brought us into being and gave us power thus to act so it is but a due return of our being formed by him even for the Engine to move as he would have it It is just to comply with the End of our Maker or if this be left to our choice and freedom it is better when so performed of a willing and ready mind for God loves such a disposition of Soul And if there be such an Heart in People all the future Discourse would be in vain for they would both offer and act willingly without being pressed to it Let the way be only shewed they will both walk yea and run in it without being pricked forward let it be declared what they have to do and they will forthwith actually do it without so much argument and persuasion If any one throughly assures and clearly demonstrates unto them That the Lord hath said and enjoyned them thus there is need of no more words for we will do it Truly God is good and all things shall work together for good to them that love God and that are called according to the purpose of his Will Rom. 8. 28. And we will trust in the general without being particularly told how the several things are so We will commit our way unto the Lord and keep stedfast in his Covenant come Life or Death Shame or Dishonour good Report or evil Report Loss or Advantage being assured that God will so over-rule things in his Providence that even these contrary things shall tend yet more to our real and enduring Happiness Those Saints of old who were hungry and thirsty are now come to that place where they are filled and they do enjoy the fulness and fatness of God's House It is a greater degree of Happiness to have been miserable to reflect that the contrary Evil is done away and there succeeds in the room a greater good and fulness so that even Self-denial and Hardship do make way for more Enjoyment and Rest Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus who went about doing good whose Meat and Drink it was to do the Will of his Heavenly Father who did not much regard the perishing Comforts of this World as to be fully employed in and faithfully discharge that Message he was sent about So Job did more regard the Words of God's Mouth than his necessary Food For the one was of more Concernment and greater Advantage to himself than the other as it was found at last And though this might not be at first apprehended yet the sense of his Duty to God did make him give the Esteem and Preference Where is Love and Good-will towards God this makes that his Commandments do not seem grievous They are indeed represented so by the Tempter who would keep off from the Observance of them but they are not so in themselves And this hath been at sundry times cleared and manifested both by the inspired Men who wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and also by other Labourers in God's Vineyard who out of their VVritings and from the very Reality and Reason of things have brought out the Truth The like also we have endeavoured by God's Grace and Assistance to shew and even to demonstrate unto the most natural and ungodly Man VVho keeps off because of this Frightning and Temptation and therefore we addressed unto him if he would but judge of what he is vainly afraid to practise for then his former Fear and Aversation would wear off and he would experimentally find the Truth and Reality of things as they are there spoken of The Subject is Of Happiness wherein it is fully and particularly manifested that the greatest Happiness of this Life consisteth in the Fear of God and keeping his Commandments in Opposition to the Pleasures of Sin or the pretended Conveniency of Disobedience By Richard Stafford VVhich is shewed as to the present Evil and Pain of several Sins there named and also of the Good and Excellency of the commanded Duties there instanced in And the like may in the same manner be demonstrated of all the rest either mentioned in the VVord of God or ever heard of even as to all the Actions and Doings of Men whatever they are concerned in so it is differently of the Good and Evil Duty and Sin of what is commanded or what is forbidden Therefore I esteem all thy Precepts concerning all things to be right and I hate every false Way Psal 119. 128. The like Nature runs through them all that they are really good and desirable yea and to be observed So in every false VVay there is Destruction and Misery which should be avoided And was there a like Observance of all God's Precepts and an abstaining from all Appearance of Evil any one would both judge and experimentally find the same as the Man after God's own Heart did But by reason of that abundant Sin and Corruption which is every where and hath spread it self over all Nations and Men yea and there is also a reserved Iniquity in those who seem to be VVorshippers and Servants of God which like the Herb that caused Death in the Pot so this occasions Sowerness and Misery And therefore this great Truth is scarce discernable O that thou hadst hearkned to my Commandments then had thy Peace been as a River and thy Righteousness as the Waves of the Sea Isa 48. 18. Then shall I not be ashamed when I have Respect unto all thy Commandments Psal 119. 6. I shall not live in Doubt and Misery I shall not be disappointed of so much pretended Good or Conveniency as may be thought to be had in the Transgression of this or that Commandment as the Sinner thinks expedient In the forementioned Place of Isa 48. 18. It is first said Thy Peace had been as a River and then